kenney



APPARATUS PoR PURIPYING FEED WATER. No. 558,183. 4,

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1:". Elv KENNEY. APPARATUS FOR PURIEYING FEED WATER.

` Patented Apr. .14, 1896.

AN DREW BLR/WAM. PHOTO-LITHQWASWNGTUMDC. l

tributer of the separator detached.

NrrnD STATES ATENT OFFICE..

FRANK E. IIENNEY, OF ST. PAUL, MINNESOTA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO DANIEL N. NESTER, OF SAME PLACE.

APPARATUS FOR PURIFYING FEED-WATER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent NO. 558,183, dated April 14, 1896.

Applicationfiled January 16,1896. Serial No. 575,697. (No model.)

To all whom t may concern.-

Be it known that I, FRANK E. KENNEY, a citizen of the United States, residing` at St. Paul, in the county of Ramsey and State of Minnesota., have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Apparatus for Separating Alkali, dac., from Water; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled 4in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention has for its object to provide an improved apparatus for separating foreign materials from water containing the same in solution or suspension.

The invention is especially designed for separating alkali from alkaline water, so as to render it possible to obtain pure feedwater for boilers in those sections oi country, like the far Northwest, wherein water in its natural condition is so thoroughly impregnated with alkali as to be extremely objectionable for boiler use.

To these ends my invention consists of the novel apparatus which will be hereinafter fully described, and defined in the claims.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein like notations refer to like parts throughout the several views.

Figure l is a View chiefly in side elevation, but partly in vertical section, with some portions broken away, illustrating a return-flue boiler as equipped with my improved apparatus or separator. Fig. 2 is a detail in sectional perspective showing the supply-dis- Fig. 3 is a detail in longitudinal vertical section through part of the steam-cage of the separator detached. Fig. -i is a detail in sectional perspective of the purified feed-water collector of the separator detached. Fig. 5 is a vertical cross-section looking inward on the line of Fig. l. Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the entire separator detached from the boiler with some parts broken away and others shown in sec-tion; and Fig. 7 is a view of the front end of a straight-line boiler7 partly in side elevation and partly in vertical section, with some portions broken away, as

`cated below and the smaller above.

the same would appear when equipped with my separator.

In respect to the process used I have found by actual experience that by subjecting alkaline water to heat and steam the alkali can be concentrated and precipitated, so as to permit pure waterto be drawn o from the top of the vessel in which the separation is effected. The alkali-laden water also frequently contains magnesia, lime, and various other ingredients held in solution. By the conjoint application of heat and steam I have found that all these ingredients, as well as the alkali, may be separated or removed. In carrying out the process the water is iirst heated to set free the alkali or other materials and then the steam is applied directly to the hottest portion ofthe body of water. The alkali and other materials set free by the heat tend to come to the surface in the form of a creamy-like foam, and when the free steam is applied directly thereto a churning action is set up, which has the effeet of concentrating the alkali and other materials, such asmagnesia and lime, into la solid form, which will then fall by gravity to the bottom of theV receptacle in which the water is receiving treatment.

' The exact action of the process will be more fully understood from the description of the apparatus for carrying the same into effect, which will now be given.

ConsideringV first the application of my separator to the return-liuc boiler, as shown in Fig. 1, the numeral l represents the boilershell proper, 2 the main flue, 3 the frontend extension, 4 the return-flue, 5 the stack, and 6 the steamdome, all of the ordinary standard construction. My separator is designed for location inthe front-end extension 3 of the boiler and has i'lues for coperation with the boiler-fines for subjecting the water therein to the heating action. The separatorcasing is preferably in the form of a drumlike receptacle made up of two segments a a. of unequal size, with `the larger thereof l0- The said drum-segments a a are flanged at their meeting joint, and are rigidly connected, so as to be separable at will, by means of tap-screws IOO a2 or other suitable devices applied to the said iianges. The drum-segments are provided with suitable thimbles co3, extending lengthwise thereof, and through the said thimbles ext-end stay-bolts d'1, projecting from the front iiue-sheet and engaged by nuts a5 at their outer ends. This construction serves to removably hold the separator in its proper working position in respect to the boiler.

The lower segment a of the separator-drum is provided with a series of lues corresponding to the boiler-fines in size and relative location, with their rear ends extending beyond the rear head of the drum and adapted to enter the front ends of the boiler-flues with a telescoping action, so as to cooperate there with. The separator for the return-flue boiler, for example, is provided in its lower segment a with a large flue a, which cooperates with the main flue 2 of the boiler to form a forward extension of the same, and is also provided with a series of small iues a7, which cooperate with the small or return iiues 4: of the boiler, as clearly shown in Figs. 1, 5, and 6.

The upper segment d of the separator-drum is provided with a sectional cross-partition as, having half-cylinder joint-iianges at its inner or meeting ends, which embrace a plugged pipe dg, and are rigidly united by tap-screws d10 or other suitable means, and when so united the partition-flanges and said pipe a9 cooperate to form a hollow central section in the said partition, which is perforated on its upper and lower median lines, as shown at a and @12in Figs. l and 3. Vithin the said hollow or cylindrical central section of said partition as is located the discharge-section l) of a steam-supply pipe b b', shown as tapping the steanrdome 6, and provided with a suitable reduction-valve b2. The discharge-section b of said steam-pipe is provided with perforations b3 on its lower median line only, so as to discharge the steam downward in small jets.

lVith the construction just described it is obvious that when the drum-sections d d are united into working position, as shown in Figs. 1, 5, and G, for example, the said partition formed by the parts as and a" serves to divide the separator-drum into two compartments, constituting chambers or receptacles at different levels, which only communicate with each other through the perforated partition-section a9. The said perforated cylindrical partition-section a, on account of its function, may hereinafter for convenience be called the steam-cage. In the lower compartment of the separator is located a distributer c, having supplyconnections c for the supply of the unpurified or crude water thereto. The said distributer chas a perforated bottom, as shown at c2 in Figs. l, 2, and 5, which construction causes the said distributer to deliver the water downward in finely-divided jets.

A collector f is located in the upper compartment and is provided with an outflow or discharge pipe f leading to the boiler for supplying the purified water'thereto. The outiiow-pipe f/ is provided with asuitable checkvalve f2. The collector f is shown as in the form of a hollow casting with foot-piece or pedestal f3 resting on the partition-plate as and secured thereto by tap-screw f4. The said collector f is provided with perforations f5 in its top wall, so as to receive the water from above downward. The separator is also provided with a top pipe g, rising from the uppersegment d and projecting through the shell of the front-end extension, and to this pipe g is applied an ordinary safety-valve g. The lower segment a of the separator is provided with a blow-off pipe h, extending downward through the wall of the front-end eX- tension and provided with lateral extensions h, which may be of a size to serve as a muddrum and are equipped with valved outlets h2 for the discharge of the material therefrom.

Operation: Having regard to the action, it is obvious from the description of the parts so far given that the separator as an entirety will be subjected to the heat in the front-end extension of the boiler and that the lower or flue segment a of the separator-drum will be subjected to the same advantageous application of the heat as the boiler itself, or perhaps even better on account of the separatoriiues d and ce?. Hence the unpuriiied water supplied to the lower compartment of the separator through the distributer c will be rapidly heated and the hotter portions of the same will rise and iiow through the steamcage a9 into the upper compartment, and thence through the collector f and the pipe f to the boiler. As the unpurified water becomes heated in the lower compartment of the separator, the alkali, magnesia, lime, &c., but especially the alkali, will be set free and tend to come to the top and collect thereon in the form of a cream-like foam; but the said foam is met at the steamecage a9 or the only available passageway into the upper compartment by the jets of steam supplied from the pipe b h. As the discharge of the steam from the steam-pipe b b is downward, the greater portion of the same passes through the lower perforations d of the cage d and into the lower compartment. These jets of steam meeting the foam at the entrance to the cage blow or drive the same back into the lower compartment, leaving a clear way for the water to enter the cage, and has the further effect of setting up a churning action in the lower compartment which concentrates the alkali and other materials into solid form, so that the same will collect by gravity at the bottom of the lower compartment or in the mud-drum below the same. In this way only the pure water will pass into the upper compartment of the separator and flow thence into the boiler or other receptacle thro ugh the collectorfand the outtlow-pipef The location and form of the distributer c,

IOO

arranged to discharge downward in nely` divided jets, are an advantage for the supply of the unpuriiied water to the separator, inasmuch as thereby violent agitation from the inflow at the bottom of the lower compartment is avoided and chance is afforded for the precipitation of materials, such as mud, dac., held'in suspension. The churning action due to the effect of the steam on the foam in the lower compartment is of course confined chieiiy to the upper or hottest layers of the water and may be regulated so as not to be sufiicient to violently agitate the lowermost layers of the water and interfere with the collecting` action of the precipitates.

The application of the separator to a straight-flue boiler is shown in Fig. 7l and the construction and operation are substantially the same as in the form already considered, with the single exception of the difference in the form of the flues in the separator, which are all small iues tfor cooperation with the flues 4a of the straight-line boiler.

It should be further noted that the construction of the separator permits the same to be readily taken down and removed from the boiler or the upper segment of the drum to be removed for inspection or cleaning` out of the lower segment while in working position. The upper segment is also provided with a hand-hole closed by the ordinary cover p, as best shown in Figs. l and 6, which permits access to the interior of the upper segment at will while in working position. The lues of the separator are also of such character and so applied as to permit the same to be readily removed and replaced by new flues whenever so desired.

It should also be noted that the reductionvalve b2 in the steam-supply pipe b b for the separator enables the steam to be delivered on the separator side at any desired constant pressure regardless of the steam-pressure in the boiler.

Although my invention has been herein t illustrated as applied for purifying the feedwater for steam-boilers, it will be understood that the same might be used for purifying water designed for any other desired use. The boiler application, however, is of great importance and utility, because the trouble from alkali water is such an extremely serious one in the alkali districts-such, for example, as in northern Minnesota, the two Dakotas, Nebraska, and many of the Northwestern States. The alkaline deposits are much more injurious to boilers than lime deposits, for example, because ofthe greater corrodin g action thereof on the metal. It is also extremely obj cctionable on account of the foaming in the boiler. Hitherto, so far as l am aware,no satisfactory separator has been available for removing th'e alkali. By actual experience I have demonstrated that my invention herein disclosed will do the work, thereby rendering pure water available, and i greatly adding to the life and safety of steam-boilers, besides the advantages of pure water for other uses.

It will be understood, of course, that minor details of the construction might be changed without departing from the spirit of my invention.

What I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is as follows:

1. A water-separator, comprising a pair of receptacles or compartments, at different levels, a steam-cage constituting or forming a part of the passage connecting said compartments, and provided with a supply of steam discharging therethrough into the lower compartment, means for heating the said lower receptacle or compartment or the water therein, supply connections to said lower compartment, and outflow or discharge connections from said upper compartment, substantially as described.

2. A water-separator, comprising a receptacle divided by a cross-partition, into lower and upper compartments and having a steamcage forming a part of said cross-partition, a discharge-section of steam-supply pipe, located in said cage and discharging downward therethrough into the lower compartment, supply connections to said lower compartment, outflow connections from said upper compartment and means for heating said lower compartment, substantially as described.

3. A water-separator, comprising a receptacle divided, by a cross-partition, into a lower and an upper compartment, a steam-cage, in said partition, serving to connect said compartments, a discharge-section of steam-pipe in said cage, discharging downward, therethrough into said lower compartment, a distributer in said lower compartment, receiving the unpurified water and discharging the same downward, means for heating said lower compartment, and out-How connections from said upper compartment, substantially as described.

4. A water-separator, comprising a receptacle divided, by a cross-partition, into lower and upper compartments, a steam-cage in said partition, serving to connect said compartments, a discharge-section of steam-supply pipe, located in said cage and discharging downward therethrough, into the lower compartment, means for heating said lower compartment, a distributer, in said lower compartment, receiving the unpurified water and discharging the sameA downward into said compartment, and a collector, in said upper compartment, receiving from above downward and provided with outiiow or discharge connections, substantially as described.

5. The combination with a steam-boiler, having a front-end extension, of a feed-water heater and separator, located therein, and comprising a receptacle, divided by a crosspartition into lower and upper compartments, the lower member of which is provided with IOO IIO

due-sections matching and forming continuations ot the boiler-fines, a steam-cage, in said partition, connecting said compartments, a discharge-section of steanrpipe in said cage Adischarging downward therethrough into,

lower compartment, supply connections to said lower compartment, and outflow connections from said upper compartment to the boiler, substantially as described.

6. The combination with a steam-boiler, having a front-end extension, of a combined feed-water heater and separator, located therein, comprising a receptacle divided, by a cross-partition, into lower and upper compartments, the lower member of which is provided with tine-sections matching and form* ing continuations of the boiler-dues, a steamcage in said partition connecting said compartments, a steam-pipe, from the boiler, having a discharge-section thereof within said cage, discharging downward therethrough into the lower compartment, a reductionvalve in said steam-pipe, supply connections to said lower compartment, and outiow connections from said upper compartment to the boiler, substantially as described.

7. The combination with a steam-boiler having a front-end extension of the combined feed-water heater and separator, located therein, comprising a receptacle, divided by a cross-partition into lower and upper compartments, the lower member of which is provided with iues matching and cooperating with the boiler-fines, a steam-cage in said partition, connecting said compartments, a steam-supply pipe having its discharge-section in said cage and discharging downward therethrough into the lower compartment, a reduction-valve in said steam-supply pipe, a distributer, in said lower compartment, with discharge-openings in its bottom and having supply connections for the unpuriiied water, and a collector, in said upper compartment, provided with receiving-openings in its top and having outlet connections leading to the boiler, all substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

S. The combination with a boiler having a front-end extension, of the drum-like receptacle, adapted to serve as a feed-water heater and separator, composed of the flanged lower and upper segments a c, separably connected together, at their joint-flanges, and provided with thimbles engaged by nutted stay-bolts projecting from the front flue-sheet of the boiler, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

FRANK E. KENNEY.

Vitnesses D. N. NESTER, JAs. F. WILLIAMSON. 

